Fremantle — "Freo" to locals — is Perth's port city, sitting at the mouth of the Swan River where it meets the Indian Ocean. The city was transformed for the 1987 America's Cup defence, and the restored Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes, the Cappuccino Strip along South Terrace, and the working fishing harbour give it a character quite distinct from Perth itself.
The Fremantle Markets, running since 1897, are the heart of weekend life — fresh produce, street food, and crafts under the old Victorian market hall. The Fremantle Prison, a convict-built limestone complex now a World Heritage Site, offers tours including a torchlight night tour. The Western Australian Maritime Museum and Shipwreck Galleries sit on the harbour. Fishing Boat Harbour is the place for fish and chips by the water.
Fremantle is an easy 30-minute train ride from Perth and makes either a day trip or a base in its own right. The bar and restaurant scene is lively, particularly around South Terrace and the Norfolk Hotel. With a second day, take the ferry to Rottnest Island.